T H E S H O W C I R C U I T

More Than a Jacket: Junior Board President Q&A - Charolais Association

My favorite quote is “They may never understand your fire, but they will always long for your flames.”

Kaitlyn Davlin, National Junior Charolais Board President

I’m currently a Graduate Student at Texas A&M where I’m pursuing a Master of Agriculture in Animal Science with a Business Certificate. I am 22 years old and from the small town of El Campo, Texas where my family and I farm row-crop corn and cotton as well as run a commercial and purebred Charolais cow-calf operation. I’m currently a Feed Sales Intern with Purina and am hoping to pursue a job in the feed sales industry following graduation. I’ve been on the National Junior Charolais Board for the past 5 years and was recently elected as the President.

How long have you been showing your breed for?

I’ve been showing Charolais for 7 years now. I first began my freshman year of high school and my dad and I have been hooked ever since!

What made you stick to this breed?

The people, 100%. The atmosphere at a Charolais Junior National is unlike another other. While the week comes with the stress of execution and competition, it is by far the best week of the year. When I went to my first junior national in Texarkana, I knew absolutely no one. The opening arms of the junior board and my peers is what led me to become so involved and stick around for so long.

Who’s the biggest role model within your breed?

The biggest role model in the Charolais breed to me is our Director of Junior Activities, Kaitlyn Chism. There is not a single person in the world I know of who is more organized than she is! Being on the junior board is a great experience because of her. If it wasn’t for Kaitlyn, our junior national wouldn’t happen. She’s an inspiration in so many ways, and the Charolais juniors are lucky to have her.

What’s your favorite memory being part of the junior board?

My favorite memory as a junior board member has been the whole experience. When I first came to junior nationals, every person on the board was a role model to me and was so accepting of each and every person. The best part of being on the junior board is having the opportunity to be that person for someone else and help make their experience the best it can be.

What did it feel like to be elected as president of your board?

It was an indescribable feeling. I am honored and privileged to have been chosen by my peers to lead an organization as great as the AIJCA. It’s a big job and I’m lucky that they know I can accomplish the task. This wouldn’t have been possible without the awesome group of friends I’ve been lucky enough to serve alongside throughout the past 5 years.

What would you tell someone who’s considering running for a junior board?

DO IT. Don’t be scared! I was so intimidated when I first ran for the board that I almost dropped out. Don’t be that person! Serving on the junior board has been the best experience of my life, and again – it’s the BEST opportunity to give back to an organization that has done so much for you. Be that person the juniors can look up to!